Congressmen request BTC information from GAO

WASHINGTON House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak, D-Mich., have requested an update of the General Accounting Office’s 1995 evaluation on the potential benefits and pitfalls associated with a third-class of drugs in a letter to GAO Comptroller General David Walker, FDANews reported Tuesday.

The FDA held a meeting in October to help identify the issues and hurdles that would need to be addressed if a behind-the-counter class of drugs were to be considered. The FDA has established no timetable for a next step, such as a call for public comments and/or an advisory committee hearing, following that meeting.

The 1995 GAO report on BTC drugs concluded there were no major benefits associated with a third class.